News: So this is my new Sparrabeth fan fiction. It's a lot more Sparrabethy, which is why I like it a lot more than my last one. I hope you guys like it too.
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Disclaimer:If I owned Jack and Lizzie, I would have put them together in AWE.
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La Mer Appelle, Chapter 1: Far Away for Far Too Long
Thump. Thump. Thump. William Turner's heart beat inside the Dead Man's Chest. A nice, steady pace, as usual. Although, Elizabeth couldn't imagine that anything at World's End could possibly cause Will's heartbeat to quicken. Ferrying souls day after day by order of the sea goddess, Calypso, wouldn't quite cause much excitement or fear in one's being. And so, the heart beat nicely and steadily. Day after day. Week after week. Month after month. Year after year.
The heart had been confined inside the Chest for two years now. Two years out of an eternity, only to be reunited with its owner once every ten years. It did not wait alone, however. It waited with its caretaker, Captain Elizabeth Swann, also known as the Pirate King of the Brethren Court. She had been pillaging, plundering, rifling and looting ever since Will, her husband, had left.
Another day, another treasure to be taken from a merchant ship unfortunate enough to cross the Empress. When Elizabeth had returned to assume her rightful place as captain, she had made the ship her own. The cabin containing the bed she now lay in was exactly how she wanted it. And, on the Empress, she said what she wanted and did what she wanted. Nevertheless, every now and again, things didn't go the way she wanted.
For example, lately her "business" was not going well. Her first mate, Pai Huang, had informed her that their territory was being invaded by a fellow pirate ship who was, at the moment, anonymous. All they knew was that someone was getting to ships before she and her men could, causing a setback in their acquiring of goods. Just yesterday, they'd discovered yet another ship burning with no passengers and no loot. This did not make Elizabeth happy.
The pirate captain and King rolled out of bed... and onto the floor. "Damn," she cursed under her breath. She'd noticed that she had been recently voicing her new habit. Swearing was not something she usually did, but after years at sea with a couple dozen male sailors, some habits were bound to emerge. Bad ones too. She was thankful that she hadn't taken up scratching herself in inappropriate places or making dirty jokes whilst eating the morning meal. Swearing and drinking had become unavoidably contagious.
The over-sized dress shirt she was wearing to substitute a nightgown hung loosely off of her shoulders, exposing her cleavage and the necklace she never took off, for it hung the key to the Dead Man's Chest on its chain. Elizabeth grabbed her robe off of her favorite chair when someone came bursting into her cabin, exclaiming, "Captain, we've found them!" Quickly, she threw on the robe and tied it around her waist. "Pai Huang," she scolded, "what have I told you about barging in here when I don't have any pants on?!"
"With all due respect, Captain, I have no way of knowing if you have pants on, this late in the morning."
"Well, if you'd just wait for me to come outside on deck, we wouldn't have to worry about that, would we?"
"Apologies." The Asian pirate bowed.
"You're forgiven, once again. Now, who have we found, exactly?"
"The ship that has been taking advantage of all the merchant ships whose belongings are rightfully ours."
She beamed. "You mean we've caught the bastards?"
"Aye, Madam."
Elizabeth fetched her pants off of the floor and pulled them up her legs. She got her favorite jade-encrusted belt off of her desk and strapped it around her waist. Beginning to remove her robe, she motioned for Pai Huang to turn around. He obeyed, plastering his hands over his eyes. Elizabeth flung a green blouse she had plundered from a wealthy traveler's ship over her head. She tied her hair up in a ponytail, topping everything off with her favorite hat.
Sword at her side, Elizabeth commanded, "Run up the white flag." "What for, Captain? Why not just blow the black-sailed ship to pieces?" Pai Huang questioned.
"Let's see if we can save our cannons for a rainy day. Perhaps the captain has a logical explanation as to why he's been interfering with our affairs."
"I see, Captain Swann. I will make sure the deed is done immediately." He began to exit when Elizabeth waved him out.
"Wait," she started, causing him to cease, "did you say 'black sails'?"
The Black Pearl's black sails whipped with the wind, moving the ship beautifully across the sea. The crystal clear water and smooth blue sky both made for a pleasant morning. Captain Jack Sparrow breathed in the salty air, then let it all out in a long sigh. This was going to be a good day. He could feel it. The sea was calm, there wasn't a cloud in the sky, the rum bottles were filled to the brim, there was an enemy ship on the horizon...
'Oh, bugger,' Jack swore silently. "Master Gibbs!" he called to his first mate, "Come here at once!" The old sea dog obeyed, hurrying to his captain. "Yes, Cap'n?" Gibbs inquired.
"What is that?" Jack asked, pointing to the enemy ship.
"Er... that be a ship, sir."
"And why wasn't I informed of a possible attacking ship in our midst?"
"I'll go and find out, sir."
Gibbs yelled up the the lookout who was supposed to be on duty, "Marty!" No response. "Marty!" he tried again. Marty made no response. Gibbs climbed up the ropes of the Pearl to find the small man sleeping on a crosstree. He reached out and shook Marty awake. "Five more minutes," the midget groaned. Gibbs explained, "Yer in trouble with the cap'n, Marty."
"I did nothing wrong. I was up all night watching star after star, wave after wave. Now I want some sleep and I don't even get that?"
"You shoulda stayed awake a little longer, my friend."
"What do you mean?" Marty rubbed his sleepy eyes.
"There's an enemy ship ahead."
"What?!"
The lookout slipped off of the crosstree and fell many feet down, hitting the hard deck with a thud. His captain walked by, standing over him. Marty looked up at him with a mild, but still very present fear. "Ahoy, Captain," he greeted meekly. "Hello, Marty," Jack said unenthusiastically, "sleep well?"
"Not particularly, sir."
"Well, if this ever happens again, you'll be getting lots of sleep... in the brig."
"Aye, Captain."
Jack stood up along with Marty, who scurried away. The captain pulled his spyglass to examine the incoming ship. At first, it was a blur, but when his eyes focused, it revealed a unexpected truth. "Master Gibbs!" he shouted to his first mate, "I need you again!" Too slow for Jack's liking, Gibbs arrived, wondering, "What is it now, Cap'n?"
"What ship does that look like to you?" He handed his first mate the spyglass.
"Why, it's the... "
"The what?"
"The... " His voice trailed.
"Bloody hell, Joshamee, what ship is it?"
"It's the Empress, Jack."
The Empress. 'Lizzie's ship,' Jack remembered. How long had it been? Too long. At least two years. What was she doing here? What had she been up to? Was she still as beautiful as he remembered? So, she'd gone back to being a pirate. Unless she'd given the Empress to someone else. "Cap'n," Gibbs pointed out, "they've put out the white flag." "What?" Jack asked rhetorically in astonishment.
"Why would Miss Elizabeth do that?"
"We don't know if it's Lizzie."
Jack pried the spyglass from Gibbs's fingers and put it back in his coat. "Gents," he ordered his crew, "run out the white flag, but ready the cannons, just in case! We're gonna have some visitors. One of them just might be Missus Elizabeth Turner." Pintel and Ragetti, two crewmen, came running up to their captain, asking, "The poppet?!" Cotton's parrot squawked, "Pirate King!" Jack admitted, "We don't know for sure."
"Aw," they groaned in disappointment.
"Prepare for the arrival of... somebody!"
"How do I look?" Elizabeth asked Pai Huang about the sixth outfit she'd tried on. He sighed and replied, "Just as beautiful as when you did the first time you tried that on." She turned back to the mirror. 'I tried this on already?' she wondered. "Captain Swann," her first mate reminded her, "we best be getting a move on."
"I know, but I have to look good."
"'Cause you might be seeing Captain Jack Sparrow again," he stated bluntly.
"Don't be bold, Pai Huang. It's just Jack."
"Sure it is... " he said with fake enthusiasm.
"How would you like to have your tongue cut out?"
That got him to be silent. He shut his mouth and left the cabin. Elizabeth looked back at the mirror, still unsatisfied, and put on her tricorn hat that very much resembled Jack's. 'I didn't do it on purpose,' she told herself again, '... entirely.' Hand on the hilt of her sword, she walked out onto the deck of her ship. The Black Pearl was right beside it. So close, she could reach out and touch it if she leaned over the Empress's railing.
Out of nowhere, someone on the other ship shouted, "Poppet!" Elizabeth faced the Pearl to find Pintel and Ragetti there, waving at her with big grins on their faces. She waved back at them with less excitement than they were offering her. She just wanted to see Jack. "Captain," Pai Huang said from behind her. She turned and retrieved the grappling hook from his hands. "Do you need company, Captain Swann?" he asked. She assured him, "I'll be fine."
Elizabeth chucked the grappling hook into the air. It caught on the railing of the Pearl and she swung over to the ship. Pulling herself up to the wonderfully familiar deck, she smiled slightly to herself. When her boots hit the floor, she felt a strange feeling overcome her. What is was, she did not know. Happiness, maybe. Contentment. Suddenly, she felt someone hugging her legs. She looked down to find Marty squeezing her thighs. She reached down and tapped his bald head.
"Have some dignity, would you, Marty?!" There it was. The voice she'd only heard in her head for the last two years. This time it was really him. Elizabeth turned with a smile and saw him. There was the smug grin that captured her heart every time it showed on the roguishly handsome face that she only dreamed she could claim as her possession.
Marty's grasp weakened and he finally dropped his arms. His cheeks blushed slightly, the red moving up all the way to his bare scalp. Jack opened his mouth to speak once again, but he was interrupted by Gibbs, who exclaimed, "Miss Elizabeth!" He approached her and shook her hand heartily. Jack pursed his lips in disappointment. Elizabeth threw him a sympathetic gaze.
The captain of the Black Pearl pushed between his first mate and his guest, separating their arms. He faced Gibbs and declared, "My turn wiv her!" His first mate backed off. Jack turned to the Pirate King, teasing, "And I mean that in every wrong way you was thinking just now." Elizabeth felt herself blushing redder than Marty. Jack held out an arm and motioned to his cabin, suggesting, "Shall we?"
When they were finally inside, Elizabeth realized that she hadn't spoken since she'd stepped onto the Pearl. She knew it was probably because she was so incredibly happy that it had made her speechless. Jack closed the door and Elizabeth could have sworn she heard him lock it too.
"Take a seat, love," he told her. She obeyed, grabbing a stool in a corner of the room. When she turned back in Jack's direction, Elizabeth was surprised when he was so close to her face. She dropped the stool clumsily and stared into his dark eyes. "How've you been, Lizzie?" he asked her. 'He called me "Lizzie"!' Oh, how she'd longed for him to call her that for and lifetime.
Elizabeth felt dreadfully stupid when she realized her mouth was hanging open. Jack's face was but inches from hers. She hadn't been this near him since... since the day she'd kissed him and killed him. Remembering this, she closed her mouth and backed away, only for him to step forward once more, putting her only one move closer to the edge of her breaking point.
"I-I've been great," at last, she replied to the question he'd asked so many moments ago, "I, uh, I've been really great, actually-"
"Is that so?" his bittersweet breath caressed her face.
"Y-yes. Everything's great-"
"That's nice." And then he did it. He slanted his mouth onto hers, kissing her deeply. Elizabeth didn't know how to respond, but, suddenly, she found herself kissing him back. She put a hand to his neck and smoothed her thumb over his rough skin. She found her heart starting to accelerate. 'Heart. My heart. Will's heart. Will!'
Hesitating at first, Elizabeth pulled her mouth off of Jack's and caught her breath. He did the same, breathing heavily. He managed, "Nice to see you again as well, love." He smirked at her. That smirk that angered her and made her swoon all at the same time. "What ever happened to," she asked, "'once was quite enough'?"
"What ever happened to 'It would never have worked out between us'?"
"A kiss is just a kiss. It doesn't mean that we'd work out, Jack."
"It that's not the reason, why'd you kiss me?"
"I should be asking you the same question."
"And, if you did, I'd answer by saying, 'It was a welcome present'."
"Are you insinuating that kissing you is a privilege?"
"You said it, not me."
It was then that Elizabeth realized that she still hadn't taken her hand off of Jack's neck, which was unusually warm. She slid her fingers down his collarbone, onto his bare chest under his shirt. Her hand tingled as she felt his heart beat beneath the skin touching her fingers. 'His heart. Will's heart. Will!' She tore her hand away and slumped onto the stool she'd meant to sit on before she'd been... distracted.
Jack seemed to have read her mind, for he declared, "Back to business!" He took his own seat and propped his feet upon his desk. Elizabeth straightened her hat and crossed one leg over the other. There he was. Her ultimate treasure. Her forbidden fruit. Her everything. And he was out of her reach, behind a wall built up by insincere words spoken on a ship during a storm over two years ago.